Sharon Kleyne Discusses How Smoking Relates to Vision Problems on Upcoming Radio Show

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Bio-Logic Aqua® Research Water Life Science® Founder Sharon Kleyne will talk about smoking as it relates to vision, cataracts, dry eye and other eye diseases on the Sharon Kleyne Hour® Power of Water® radio show for Monday, Jan. 11, 2016.

Grants Pass, OR (PRWEB)January 06, 2016

One need only sit in a smoky room for a few minutes to figure out that cigarette smoke is bad for your eyes. Medical research, in recent years, has built an ever stronger case that smoking greatly increases the risk of eye diseases including cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye, conjunctivitis, uveitis, eye diseases of the unborn and more. A leading authority on dry eye, vision and dehydration, radio host Sharon Kleyne, as part of her educational mission will devote an upcoming show to a discussion of cigarette smoking, vision and dehydration.

Kleyne will talk about smoking as it relates to vision, cataracts, dry eye and other eye diseases on the Sharon Kleyne Hour® Power of Water® radio show for Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. For the live show or a podcast, go to http://www.SharonKleyneHour.com. The globally syndicated, education oriented radio show is heard weekly on VoiceAmerica (Health and Wellness, and Variety Channels) and Apple iTunes.

Sharon Kleyne Hour® Power of Water® is sponsored by Bio-Logic Aqua® Research Water Life Science®, founded by Kleyne and specializing in fresh water, the atmosphere, body surface evaporation, dehydration and education. The Research Center’s signature product for dry eye is Nature’s Tears® EyeMist®.

Cigarette smoke contains thousands of toxins, according to Kleyne. The smoke quickly irritates the eye surface and prolonged and repeated exposure can lead to myriad serious diseases that significantly shorten one’s life span. The most publicized smoking related disease is lung cancer. The links between smoking and eye diseases have only recently been confirmed, Kleyne notes and the mechanisms of causality are still poorly understood in many cases.

Cataracts are a clouding of the lens inside the eye that focuses light onto the retina (light reception area) at the back of the eyeball interior. Cataracts cause blurred vision, increased sensitivity to glare, and faded colors. They are usually associated with aging but can appear at any age. A lifelong smoker, says Kleyne, is two to four times as likely to develop cataracts as a nonsmoker. Quitting drops the risk by 6.7 percent after one year and 11.7 percent after five years. Other contributing factors for cataracts include genetics and repeated unprotected exposure to ultraviolet radiation (i.e., not wearing sunglasses).

The conjunctiva, Kleyne explains, is the living transparent membrane covering the exposed surface of the eye, including the sclera and cornea. Dry eye is a reduction of the water content in the ocular tear film that covers the conjunctiva. A normal tear film is 99 percent water.

Conjunctivitis and dry eye are closely linked, according to Kleyne, and the two conditions together can create a vicious circle that may be difficult to break. Conjunctivitis is a primary side effect of dry eye and can linger long after conditions causing the dry eye as have been removed. Conversely, eye surface irritation that causes conjunctivitis also causes dry eye.

Prevention of these diseases is not complicated, says Kleyne, but can be extremely difficult for some people: Don’t start smoking and if you do, quit smoking at as early an age as possible. Also, avoid exposure to second hand cigarette smoke.

The best way to improve one’s resistance to toxins, according to Kleyne, is to keep the body as healthy as possible. This includes a balanced, nutritious diet, weight control, moderate exercise, correct breathing and adequate sleep. It also includes keeping the body and the immune system well hydrated by drinking at least eight full glasses of water a day in addition to all other fluid intake. Begin the day with two full glasses and avoid sipping the water. Sugar, carbonation and caffeine are dehydrating to the body and alcohol is extremely dehydrating.

If cigarette smoke exposure is unavoidable, the product Nature’s Tears® EyeMist® from Kleyne’s Bio-Logic Aqua® Research Water Life Science®, is recommended. The mist instantly supplements tear film water content to help wash away irritants and soothe dry eye and conjunctivitis symptoms.